JNU penalises 30 students for pointing fingers and sloganeering

The registration for the new academic year has been blocked for at least 30 students of Jawaharlal Nehru University who were involved in the protests of 2016. These students, who were allegedly found guilty in two enquiries conducted by the JNU administration, were asked to pay a fine to get it unblocked. However, even those who paid the fine found their names on the list.

Topping the list is Mohit Kumar Pandey, the JNUSU president, JNUSU vice president Amal PP, JNUSU general secretary Satarupa Chakraborty, S. Umar Khalid, Dilip Kumar, Prashant Kumar, G. Suresh and a few others.

There are eight to ten enquiries against Pandey. One of his enquiry letter states that he was irresponsible during a meeting held in June this year and that he pointed fingers at the members of the Academic Council. The complaint mentions that he also ‘indulged in videography of the proceedings without permission’. Another one of the letter states that he was shouting slogans against the VC, while a third letter stated that that he was involved in stopping the installation of a CCTV camera at the hostel.

“Only those who were involved in any protest are facing enquiries. This is nothing but a harassment. There is no rule that allows blockage of registration. We are requesting the administration to look into the matter. They are targeting us individually. This is nothing but vendetta politics,” said Pandey.

Chakraborty opined that the administration was particularly keen that they don’t remain in the university as students. “There are at least seven enquiries against me and this is because we were protesting to find the whereabouts of Najeeb. We have been slapped with a ₹20,000 fine and our hostels have been transferred too. This is nothing but a direct attack on students. We are finding out different means to challenge the administration. There may be protests organised,” said Chakraborty.

Most of the students have not been able to pay the huge amount. Even those like Khalid who have paid the fine have not had their registrations unblocked. “The administration had fined us ₹20,000 and because I was at the crucial stage in my Ph.D submission, I had paid the fine on Monday. But, yesterday my name was still on the list citing enquiry into a matter from August 2015. It stated that I was involved in the screening of a movie Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai and that I hadn’t turned up for the enquiry proceedings. However, I didn’t organise the screening and I did appear for the enquiry. The attendance records state it,” said Khalid.

“This is nothing but an arbitrary rule to block and silence dissent. On the list, there are no students who are affliated to ABVP, despite them having assaulted the missing student Najeeb Ahmed. This is criminalisation of our existence on the campus,” added Khalid.

The administration has not followed any process, nor have they gone by the rule book. “Most of us were suspended even before an enquiry. In some cases, there was only one sitting. Despite when the matter arose, the punishments are meted out only in June/July when we have to register for the next academic year. This is nothing but harassment. There will be a JNUSU meeting soon to decide on the matter,” added Pandey.

Multiple calls to the Chief Proctor Vibha Tandon’s office went unanswered and even when she answered her personal number, she refused to comment on the issue. She said she was busy with the registration process.